Refuse container



June I LiDANlELs 3,517,902

REFUSE CONTAINER 7 Filed April 17, 1968 INVENT OR.

7/ 7 40; BY Wm), x J/ %4r dd. 4 p y; z dam, j Afro/mam 3,517,902 REFUSE CONTAINER Richard L. Daniels, 208 E. 7th St., Del Rio, Tex. 78840 Filed Apr. 17, 1968, Ser. No. 722,018 Int Cl. A47f /12 US. Cl. 248-137 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to an invertably dischargeable refuse container having a receptacle pivotally secured between two vertical supports. Pivotal attachment is by means of a threaded coupling securing each vertical support member to the receptacle, the threaded couplings on either side of the receptacle having the same directional threading to limit pivotal movement of the receptacle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Containers for receiving trash, refuse and the like are of many conventional types including receptacles pivotally mounted for ease of dumping or discharging the contents thereof when desired. Likewise, various types of trash containers have been adapted for secure mounting to avoid spillage and attack by animals. In spite of the elaborate receptacle and support means provided conventionally, the need has persisted for an economical, easily constructed, securely mounted but pivotal type of container that is virtually mechanically trouble free and of wide utility. The present invention is directed to just such a device.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention is generally directed to an improved refuse container adaptable to be securely mounted on the ground and having a pivotal receptacle for expeditiously emptying contents thereof. The receptacle is secured between vertical supports such that the arc of pivotal movement is limited thereby preventing unintended disengagement of the receptacle from the supports.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a refuse receptacle pivotally secured between first and second vertical supports, said supports being adapted for mounting on the ground.

A further object of the present invention is the pro vision of such a pivotally secured receptacle wherein rotative movement thereof is about a horizontal axis above the center of gravity of the receptacle, pivotal movement being limited by means of threaded couplings coacting between the receptacle and vertical supports to which the receptacle is attached.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of such an improved refuse container device having a receptacle securably yet pivotally attached to vertical supports that may be embedded in the ground to provide a stationary refuse container uniquely suitable for use in public areas with little danger of theft of any part of the container or upset thereof.

Still other objects, features and advantages will be apparent in the following description of the preferred embodiment of the invention given for the purpose of disclosure and taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like character references represent like parts throughout the several views.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings forming a part of the disclosure herein,

FIG. 1 is a rearward elevational view of the device of the present invention wherein the supports are shown partly in cross section,

United States Patent O ice FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device of the present invention, and

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the top closure means of the device of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawings and particularly FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 generally indicates the device of the present invention comprising an elongate receptacle 12 pivotally secured between first and second support members 14 and 16 respectively. The vertical support members 14 and 16 are positioned on opposed sides of the receptacle 12 and are preferably embedded at their lower ends in concrete 18 within the ground 20. However, it will be appreciated that other means of firmly anchoring the supports may be provided.

The elongate receptacle 12 is most economically formed of a standard drum. For example, a conventional 55 gallon drum having two bungholes in the top is quite desirable in that it may be inverted so that the holes are at the bottom for purposes of drainage while the top may be cut out and secured to the receptacle such as by a hinge 22 shown in FIG. 1. A handle 24 may then be secured thereto such as bolting to the top 23 as shown in FIG. 3. As further shown in FIG. 3, a catch 26 may also be 'bolted to the top so as to strike the barrel or receptacle 12 to prevent the top from falling into the barrel. Also, in the preferred embodiment, a length of plastic or rubber hose 28 is slit lengthwise and pushed onto the circumference of the top 23 to eliminate the sharp edge thereof and reduce noise during closure.

A highly advantageous feature of the present invention is the pivotal securing of the receptacle 12 to the vertical support members 14 and 16. Pivotal support is accomplished by a first pivotal means 30 secured between the first vertical support 14 and the receptacle 12 and a second pivotal means 32 secured between the second vertical support 16 and the receptacle. Both means 30 and 32 include a horizontal threaded coupling member 34 such as an elbow commonly known as a street elbow having a male threaded end and a female threaded end at a degree angle. As shown in FIG. 1, the female end of the elbow 34 engages the top of its respective vertical support member and the male end of the elbow engages the side wall of the receptacle through means of, for example, a conventional floor flange 36 suitably bolted by means of bolts 38 as better shown in FIG. 2.

The horizontal threaded couplings 34 both have similar directional threads, i.e., both are right hand or both are left hand. When the couplings are engaged with the receptacle 12 such as by means of the floor flanges 36, pivoting the receptacle 12 about the resulting horizontal axis will tend to loosen one couple 34 while at the same time tightening the other to thereby limit the arc of pivotal movement of the receptacle 12. Since the only hori zontal threads are at the juncture of the male end of the couple 34 with the floor flange 36 of both pivotal means 30 and 32, pivotal or rotative movement of the receptacle 12 is limited when the elbows 30 are substantially tight.

In operation, the device of the present invention is assembled as shown in FIG. 1 by first preparing the receptacle 12 with the hinged lid and the like. Then the floor flanges 36 or other suitable threaded receivers are I secured above the center of gravity of the receptacle 12 and the street elbows 34 are threaded into the flanges and screwed up substantially tight. The vertical support members 14 and 16 which may simply be pieces of conventional pipe are then threaded into the female ends of the elbows 34 and aligned vertically. Holes are dug in the 3 earth 20 and filled with concrete 18 and the vertical supports 14 and 16 are embedded therein prior to curing.

When the cement 18 is set and dried, a highly utilitarian refuse container results as better shown in FIG. 2 whereby the receptacle 12 may be rotated through a vertical plane about a horizontal axis and inverted as shown in dotted outline 12a. Since the joints of the elbows 34 with the flanges 36 are made up substantially tight, pivotal movement through the vertical plate is limited when one of the elbows 36 is further tightened by the pivotal movement. When the receptacle is in the dischargeable position as shown by 12a, the tightness of the elbow 34 at the joint with the flange 36 will retain the receptacle in the dumping position until all trash has been ejected therefrom after which it may be returned to its normal upright position by simple hand motion. Advantageously, the receptacle 12 cannot be removed from the vertical supports 14 and 16 except by unbolting the flanges 36 from the receptacle 12 or by removing the vertical supports 14 and 16 from within the concrete 18, either of which requires determined efiort.

It will now become apparent that a plurality of receptacles 12 may be mounted in parallel by sharing vertical supports through use, for example, of a conventional pipe T and nipples instead of the elbow 34. However, when any fitting such as a nipple having two sets of threads on either end is used on the horizontal axis of either pivotal means 30 or 32, one set of threads should be staked, welded or otherwise prevented from unscrewing from the joint in order that there may be only one screwable horizontal thread on either side of an individual receptacle 12.

Since the receptacle 12 is substantially stationary except for limited pivotal movement, the device of the present invention is uniquely suited for use in public parks and the like as it cannot be removed easily by vandals. Similarly, tension of the receptacle 12 between the vertical supports 14 and 16 caused by substantially tight threaded engagement of the elbows 34 with the flanges 36 reduces the possibility of upset of the container by animals yet pivotal movement is possible by simple hand manipulation of the receptacle.

The present invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as other inherent therein. While a presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been given for the purpose of disclosure, numerous changes in the detail of construction and the combination, shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. An invertably dischargeable refuse container comprising,

4 a receptacle, first and second vertical supports positioned on opposed sides of the receptacle, the lower end of each being adapted for mounting on the ground, first pivotal means for securing the receptacle to the first vertical support and second pivotal means for securing the receptacle to the second vertical support such that the receptacle may be revolved about a horizontal axis by coaction of both said means, the first and second pivotal means each comprising,

an elbow having a male threaded end and a female threaded end at a 90 degree angle thereto, the female end of the elbow engaging the top of the vertical support, and the male end of the elbow threadedly engaging the sidewall of the receptacle, the male end of the elbow of the first pivotal means having threads corresponding directionally to the threads of the male end of the elbow of the second pivotal means. 2. An invertably dischargeable refuse container comprising,

an elongate receptacle having its bottom end enclosed and the top end openable, first and second vertical supports positioned on opposed sides of the receptacle, the lower end of each being adapted for mounting on the ground, first pivotal means for securing the receptacle to the first vertcial support and second pivotal means for securing the receptacle to the second vertical support such that the receptacle may be revolved about a horizontal axis transversely of the receptacle above its center of gravity, said first and second means each comprising,

an elbow having a male threaded end and a female threaded end at a 90 degree angle thereto, the female end of the elbow engaging the top of the vertical support, and the male end of the elbow threadably engaging the sidewall of the receptacle, the male end of the elbow of the first pivotal means having threads corresponding,directionally to the threads of the male end of the elbow of the second pivotal means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS EDWARD C. ALLEN, Primary Examiner 

